Month: September 2017

It is that time of the year again!!! On September 23rd Chris Lechner and I will be attempting to swim 22+ miles across Fontana Lake. At the same time, Benny Braden and Dewey Slusher will be hiking the Lakeshore Trail(34 miles) in a single day. Benny is the current speed record holder for hiking all of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park trails and Dewey has hiked up to Mt. Leconte Lodge over 240 times. We challenge you to swim, hike, kayak, paddle board, bike, run, or walk on Sept. 23rd and think about us and the great work The Hope Chest for Women does for our LOCAL community. Are you tired of just reading about That Dam Swim? Get out your canoe, kayak, paddleboard, boat, or swim suit and join us. We can use your support along the way!! World renowned journalist John Boyle has talked his brother Billy into driving down from Virginia to dive in with us and maybe even the man himself will make a BIG SPLASH.

The Hope Chest for Women was founded in 2003 to relieve some of the burdens created by breast or gynecological cancer treatment costs. We provide resources, referrals, education on cancer prevention, community and financial support. Most importantly we give hope to women in Western North Carolina living with breast or gynecological cancers.

Back for a fourth year, Jim Cottam will be swimming the 20 mile long length of Lake Fontana on Saturday, September 23rd. He will be joined by Jeff Kirby and Dr. Chris Lechner, who may paddle board to the lake from Bryson City. In addition to the swimmers, Dewey Slusher and Benny Braden will be hiking the Lake Shore Trail along the northern shore through the Great Smoky Mountain National Park to raise funds for the Hope Chest for Women. Benny Braden has hiked all of the trails in Great Smoky Mountain National Park and Dewey Slusher has hiked up to Mt. LeConte 241 times. This year, 10% of funds raised will be donated to Park Ridge Hospital’s Women’s Hope Unit, a behavioral health unit that has been instrumental in helping with the mental health of Jim’s daughter, Catherine.
You can donate by clicking here.